"The Animal Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley will sponsor an emergency pet food distribution day to serve low-income families and their pets 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 6 at the EPAA Spay/Neuter Clinic in the Rainbow Plaza on Route 209 in Chestnuthill Township.

"Volunteers from Eastern Pennsylvania Animal Alliance will be co-hosting the event while providing a vaccination clinic 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the same day. Dogs should be brought on a leash and cats should be in carriers.

"The Animal Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley received the letter of determination from the IRS stating that its application for 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt status has been approved. For the past five years, the food bank has operated as a nonprofit mission of the Trinity Episcopal Church of Bethlehem.

The Prince Chunk Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that enables pet owners to keep their pets during times of financial crisis by providing temporary assistance to pet owners throughout New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and California. Providing this aid is critical to achieve a lower animal abandonment rate, and most importantly, a lower euthanasia rate nationally.

The Emergency Veterinary Care Assistance Program provides free emergency care to applicants who are currently experiencing financial hardships. Every day, sick and injured animals are brought to shelters across the country because their owners do not have the means to come up with several hundred or several thousand dollars for emergency medical bills. Sadly, due to most animal shelter funding being insufficient, the animals in need of expensive medical care are usually euthanized.

Pre-Apply!If you are currently experiencing financial hardship and feel that this program would be useful to you should an emergency occur, please fill out a pre-approval application and submit the required documentation listed below. By applying early, your application can be kept on file and pre-approved, allowing your pet to receive the emergency care they require as quickly as possible. Please be sure to check our “Maximum Family Income Eligibility” Document to ensure you qualify.

Pet Owners who are currently struggling financially are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to pre-apply.

Please note that the processing time for these requests can take up to 2-3 weeks.

If You Are Currently Experiencing a Veterinary Emergency...If you are currently experiencing a medical emergency with your pet, and are unable to provide the required funding, please print and complete an application immediately and fax it to 856-245-7840.

After faxing your completed application, please contact the Prince Chunk Foundation so we can begin working on your request immediately. Please be sure to check our “Maximum Family Income Eligibility” Document to ensure you qualify.

"We help with low cost spaying and neutering. People need to have their animals done but can’t afford it. We try and help the family out with the cost. We provide education on inoculation, raising and taking care of animals. We have our own list of veterinarians who participate.

"We have certificates to help others with the cost. If people need help we can give them help by calling us and we will send them a package to lower the cost. If a person calls in they get a package, pick their vet from our list and we will pay before the customer gets there. It’s as simple as one, two, and three. There is no back and forth.

"Some people avoid having their pet altered because of cost. You can get assistance by calling 544-9535 to assist in cost and receive a package. We also started Brian’s fund.

What is Brian’s Fund?

"We started Brian’s Fund because we found that people had to give up animals because they couldn’t afford cat litter, or food. We collect pet food and supplies for families out of work or struggling. It’s been amazing successful. We’ve collected thousands of pounds of food and money to help out those in need. The economy is so difficult that Brian’s Fund is a blessing people need a bridge of help to get a job or back on their fee.

"Brian’s Fund was started when Janet Iacono passed away. She was a volunteer who was so committed to helping AEL and pet owners in need. Her dog’s name was Brian. In her honor AEL started Brian’s Fund donating money, collecting pet food and supplies. You can donate your collection of cat and dog food and supplies at Peddler’s Alley in Secane."